It was a busy day on Wednesday for Colorado Rockies’ closer Daniel Bard.
Besides unveiling a new walk-out song, he had his very own light show (that may have briefly broken the scoreboard) to go along with a sizable charitable announcement.
Oh, yeah, and he recorded two strikeouts to secure Colorado’s 5-2 win in the ninth inning for his seventh save of the season.
Before the game, the Rockies announced Bard’s new philanthropic endeavor.
For every strike out he throws in 2022, he will donate $300 to Fill the Void: Amp the Cause of End Hunger. He’s partnered with the charity that addresses fighting hunger in Denver. Better yet, the Colorado Rockies Foundation will match the donation.
2 Bardo Ks = $1200 to fight hunger🙌👏 pic.twitter.com/M9JelH1r6q
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) May 5, 2022
“The strikeouts are a good way to do it,” Bard said of the donations. “It gives me more motivation to strike guys out – not that I needed any more.”
That announcement made his ninth-inning appearance all the more exciting. Plus, a new walk-out experience was unveiled.
Dramatic, flashing lights filled the ballpark as the reliever made his way from the right field bullpen to the top of the pitching rubber.
“I just asked him to change the song,” Bard stated regarding the new presentation.
First was the switch to Ted Nugent’s “Stranglehold” – a song he previously used while with the Boston Red Sox in 2011. “It’s got a good vibe.”
Then, the vibes got even better. When originally requesting to change his walk-out music, he mentioned the light show used at the end of the Rockies’ two victories over the Dodgers in the Opening Weekend series.
“I said, ‘that was really cool’ and then they took it upon themselves to do the rest.”
Bud Black was a little taken aback by the whole presentation (but in a good way), citing memories of a Nugent concert circa 1975. Ultimately, he thoroughly enjoyed it.
“I’m in on all this new stuff, I think it’s great,” Black said proudly.
Bud Black likes Daniel Bard’s dramatic walk-out light show. He has some questions, but he likes it. #Rockies pic.twitter.com/i9EaY4I8Tc
— DNVR Rockies (@DNVR_Rockies) May 5, 2022
The actual results following the ninth-inning display secured a win for the Rockies and $1200 to battle food insecurity in the process.
Bard’s electric outing was even coupled by scoreboard glitches which resulted in the entire screen shutting down for several minutes.
Still, striking out Juan Soto and Yadiel Hernandez made for a good chunk of money for the charity.
“I know a lot of people are still really struggling and I want to do what I can to help you help people that are,” he said in front of his locker.
With the 36-year-old reliever avoiding the struggles of previous season, the charitable donations are all the more reason to root for him on the mound.
